I do myself the honor to lay before you the letters herewith sent from Major General Greene enclosing a correspondence between him and General Leslie relative to an exchange of certain prisoners therein mentioned now under sentence of Death for High Treason in Salisbury Gaol.

As a negotiation has actually taken place between Major General

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Greene and the British General in consequence of certain proposals made by my predecessor to them on that subject, with whose reasons for this measure you have already been presented and to which these letters are answers.

I request the sense of the Honorable the Legislature on this transaction which involves in it many great political Questions, that without your interposition may much embarrass my Administration, the sole object of which shall be to maintain and defend the Sovereign Independence and power of this State, against all its enemies and opposers whatsoever, and carry into execution all its Laws built on a Constitutional foundation.